in the parishes

SPRING 2022

A Short Sequential Guide

THE DUTIES OF SERVERS MAY VARY BASED ON THE PARISH, the priest’s preference, and the number of servers at a given Mass. The sequence below may not be a perfect match for what the servers do at your parish.

Before Mass  The servers set the side table (the credence table) with the items for the Mass, include the chalice, ciborium (container of hosts), cruets filled with water and wine, washing bowl, and hand towels. If there is to be a procession at the offertory, the ciborium and the wine cruet may be placed at the back of the church.

Procession  One altar server carries the cross to lead the procession from the back of the church to the sanctuary (the area where the altar is located), bows to the tabernacle, and places the cross in its stand. Depending on the number of servers, others may bear the incense, candles, and missal. The deacon, lector, and priest follow.

Opening Prayer  Following “Glory to God in the Highest” (or, during Lent, “Lord have mercy”), when the priest says, “Let us pray,” a server may hold the missal open for the priest’s reading.

Offertory  Immediately after the Prayer of the Faithful, the cross bearer places the missal on the altar, then carries the cross to the back of the church to lead the offertory procession, in which two of the faithful carry the bread and wine to the sanctuary. At the foot of the altar, the candle bearers stand behind the priest and the deacon to receive the gifts. They carry the ciborium to the altar and the wine cruet to the side table, then bring the wine and water cruets to the altar, where the priest prepares the wine for Communion. The candle bearers return the cruets to the side table, then go back to the altar with water, a bowl, and a hand towel so the priest can clean his hands.

Consecration  The servers kneel while the priest consecrates the bread and wine to signal their transubstantiation into the body and blood of Jesus. One of the servers may ring the altar bell once when the priest extends his hands above the bread and wine and asks the Holy Spirit to come over them, three times when the priest elevates the host (the Body), and three more times when he elevates the chalice (the Blood).

After Communion  The cross bearer clears the Missal from the altar, and, when the priest and deacon are finished, the candle bearers clear away the chalice and other items.

Recession  To conclude the Mass, the servers come to the foot of the altar with the priest and deacon, bow toward the tabernacle, and then lead the recession back up the aisle.

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